Two main alternatives to the ileal conduit have become steadily more available: the catheterizable (through an abdominal stoma) continent reservoir (internal pouch) such as the Indiana or Mainz pouch, and the orthortopic neobladder such as the Studer or Kock neobladder.

It is important that the urologic surgeon carefully educate patients regarding the options available and have the surgical skills to provide the patient with whichever option he or she selects.

As with the creation of a continent rerservoir (internal pouch), this operation requires skill and experience on the part of the surgical team. The patient must also be in relative good health and able to withstand the longer operation and recovery period.

The neobladder allows select patients to void naturally through the urethra.

The neobladder, also known as 'continent orthotopic urinary reconstruction', appeals especially to younger patients who wish to avoid a stoma on the abdomen and/or wearing an ostomy bag. In many cases those with neobladders learn how to completely empty their bladders and do not require intermittent catheterization. However, this is a learned response and not a guarantee. In cases where 100% continence is not realized, regular or intermittent self-catheterization may be necessary.

Most neobladder recipients regain daytime continence, although nocturnal incontinence may present a problem in up to 25%.

It may occur that obstacles to the creation of a neobladder are only discovered during surgery, which would cause the surgeon to opt for another technique. Tumor involving the urethra requiring urethrectomy excludes the possibility of orthotopic reconstruction.

Contraindications to orthotopic urinary diversion would be:
Absolute
• Metastatic disease
• Candidate for simultaneous urethrectomy
• Compromised intestinal function
• Hepatic impairment
• Severe renal impairment
• Follow-up not possible
Relative
• Advanced age
• External sphincter dysfunction
• Impaired mental state
• Poor dexterity or mobility
• Prior pelvic radiotherapy
• Urethral stricture

In general, anyone who is an appropriate candidate for cystectomy is also an appropriate candidate for neobladder surgery provided that urethral and bladder neck biopsies are negative for cancer. Prior radiation or chronologic age should not be considered an absolute contraindication for continent
diversion, but time for recovery and achieving urinary continence is longer
than for younger patients (Studer & Zingg, 1997).

Additional selection criteria for women include a normally functioning urethra and adequate manual dexterity for possible self-catheterization following neobladder construction (Nieh, 1997).

Neobladder patients should perform pelvic floor exercises daily. They should also be prepared to accept a certain degree of nocturnal leakage. Failure to empty and a need for intermittent self-catheterization are also possibilities. Overall, though, patients express a very high degree of satisfaction with the function achieved with orthotopic neobladders.

Key points in postoperative management include:

• education to ensure that a normal functional capacity is achieved by gradually increasing the voiding interval in the early postoperative period;
• regular residual-free voiding by pelvic floor relaxation to avoid overdistension; increased fluid intake, salt supplementation, and regular metabolic assessment; and cancer surveillance

See: http://www.duj.com/exerc.html - "Excersizing your pelvic muscles";
At WebCafe: Neobladder Dialogue (M) -continence and fluid intake (from the section "Trench Talk")

See also: First hand experiences-Tales From the Trenches:
Cystectomy followed by (urethra-sparing) neobladder
Male:
Robert- Happy Neo-bladder recipient
Ken G -Neobladder at age 46
Larry- Cystectomy, neobladder followed by M-VAC after p53 tested positive at USC/Norris

Female
Enid's Tale- Hautmann neobladder
Neobladder Woman- Anonymous contribution
Linda's Story